Vapor generator and burner



(No Model.)

A. H. GALKINS.

VAPOR GENERATOR AND BURNER.

N5. 533,515.l Patented Aug. 5, 1890.

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.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALMoN H. CALKINs, of

UNITED STATES armar QFFICE.

ALMON H. OALKINS, OF EVANSTON, ILLINOIS.

VAPOR GENERATOR AND BURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 433,515, dated August 5,1890.

Application ined Aprn 19, 1889i Evanston, in the county" of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vapor Generators andv Burners; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact descrip tion thereof, reference being had to the ac companying drawings, and to the letters of 'reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel apparatus for vaporizing liquids or converting the same into gaseous form by the application of heat.

The invention is applicable for the generation of steam, generating gas or vapor from petroleum or other liquid hydrocarbons for heating or lighting purposes, and for use in other cases in which it is desired to vaporize liquids or convert the sameinto gaseous form.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described, and pointed out in the ap pended claim. Y Y

An apparatus embodying my invention e1nbraces as its main or essential features two parallel walls, the surfaces of which are placed nearly in contact with each other, or so near together as to leave a space only for an exceedingly thin film of liquid,vapor, or gas between the plates, said space being so narrow as to be a capillary one, or one which will hold water by capillary action, together with a pipe or passage affording a supply of liquid under pressure, and communicating with the space between the plates at one end or side of said space, and a pipe or passage also communicating with said space between the plates for conducting to the place at which it is to be used the vapor, steam, or gas produced or generated by the action of heat upon the liquid in its passage between the plates.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a view, in central vertical section, of an apparatus adapted for converting liquid fuel into vapor or gas and burning the same, while at the same time affording a supply of such vapor or gas for use distant burner. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan in a view of the parts shown in Fig. l, taken upon line 2 2 of said figure.

'As illustrated in Figs. l and 2,A and are Serial No. 307,727. (No model.)

two parallel convex plates, the adjacent surfaces of which are made of the same shape and are fitted closely to each other, the joints a a at the vertical sides of the plates being made air or gas Vtight by closely fitting and clamping the parts together, or by the use of a luting of cement or other suitable material. Asherein shown, the inner curved plate A is sustained by means of two parallel transversely-arranged side walls or flanges A A within a fire-place C provided with an exit smoke-flue C.

D is an oil-supply pipe, which leads from 'an elevated oil-tank or other source of supply and communicates with the space between the plates A and B, preferably at a point about the middle of the latter. Said pipe D is herein shown as secured in a hub o. of the plate A, and as communicating by an aperture a2 in said plate with a transverse groove or channel a3 extending across the said plates, so that the liquidv entering the said pipe will be distributed throughout practically the full Width of the plates. The plate B terminates at its lower edgefat a considerable distance above the lower edge of the plate A, which latter preferably reaches to the bottom of the nre-place to prevent the passage of the flames and products of combustion upwardly at the back of the plates.`

In the operation of the burner the gas produced by the heat of the said plates A and B issues from between the plates at the lower edge of said plate B and is there burned. The flames of the burning gas pass upwardly over the outer convex surface of the said plate B, thereby maintaining the said platep and plate A at a high temperature, so that the fluid is converted into a vapor or gas as fast as it is supplied thereto.

Between the plates A and B, at the upper margins thereof, is formed a transverse passage A2, in communication with the space ben tween t-he plates, and into which gas or vapor produced from the liquid fuel entering the space between the plates may pass, the escape of said gas or vapor at the upper margin of the plates being prevented by means of a transverse joint a4 made tight by the use of cement or otherwise. An exit-pipe E communicates with the said'passage A*l and leads Ibo to a gas-burner for giving light, or a stove or heating apparatus in which the gas produced is burned.

' therefore, combines the functions of a burner and a gas-generator, and may be used in a lire-place for the purpose of giving heat, in the manner illustrated7 or used solely as a generator.

The apparatus for generating gas or vapor herein described has the important advantage over other devices for this purpose heretofore employed of being instantaneous in its action; or, in other words, of containing no considerable body of liuid which is subjected to the intense heat of the lire, so that any explosion, such as is usually caused by the sudden and rapid conversion of a large body of liquid into vapor, is impossible. For this reason the instantaneous generator described has the advantage over other generators heretofore made of being perfectly safe from explosion. Furthermore, the luid being converted into vapor as fast as it is forced between the plates, a much larger quantity of vapor may be generated with a small apparatus than is possible in ordinary boilers wherein a large body of water is constantly present, and room is required not only for the storage of the water, but to allow the separation of the steam from the water, and thus prevent the Water being carried in the form of globules or spray through the eXitpipe withvthe steam.

I am aware that vheretofore steam-boilers have been made with relatively small tubes or spaces containing water and exposed to the action of ire; but an apparatus embodying my invention diifers from such. prior construction in the important particular that the plates or heating-surfaces between which the water is confined are placed so close together as to prevent the formation of spheres or globules of liquid under the action of the heated plates, so that the said water or fluid is held in a ilm of suchy thinness that it can never be carried orforced in a iuid state any great distance through orbetween the plates, but is instantly converted into vapor or steam, which latter is further expanded or superheated in its passage between the -plates before making its exit through the outlet-pipe.

I claimas my invention A combined liquid-burner and gas-vapor generator, comprising two parallel plates the adjacent surfaces of which are placed nearly in contact and so close together as to form a capillary space between them, a supply-pipe affording a supply of liquid to the space between the plates, said plates having a narrow opening or slot at their margins through which the gas or vapor issues to beburned, a chamber or retort connected with the space between the plates for holding a supply of gas or vapor, and a pipe conducting such gas or vapor from said chamber or retort to the point where it is to be burned, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALMON H. CALKINS.

Witnesses:

C. CLARENCE PooLE, HARRY COBB KENNEDY. 

